Our History

From humble beginnings to a nationwide youth-led not-for-profit

Our History

The OOSS and Bill 115

The Organization for Ontario Secondary Students (OOSS) was founded in response to the conflict which arose over the implementation of Bill 115 on September 11, 2012. The measures taken in withholding extra-curricular activities and other voluntary teacher actions in particular placed thousands of Ontario students in the middle of the conflict, and lacking the very life and spirit of their academics. Realizing the magnitude of the potential consequences of these effects, nine students at Abbey Park High School in Oakville, Ontario, founded an organization which now stands to empower student proactivity in all related issues.

The OOSS is a non-partisan organization consisting of students from all over Ontario - from North Bay to Essex County - which strives to provide accurate information to students on the progress and development of the Bill 115 crisis and its repercussions, as well as to empower the student voice across Ontario. In remaining non-partisan, actions taken by the organization are not mandated by external needs and agendas. The OOSS stands purely for the students, and is run solely by student Executives who manage varying sectors within the administrative upkeep and development.

Students can easily reach out to the organization through the close link between the student body and executive or ambassador members, as well as show their support for an effective solution to the current conflict through accessible events, such as the hugely successful Sport Your Extra-Curricular Day. Schools throughout the GTA, and now beyond to as far as Whitby, North Bay and Ottawa, have Ambassadors within their student body who work to implement the OOSS’ campaigns and movements, while relaying concerns and opinions of students to the organization as they arise. They are the fundamental connection between student and organization, and thus are essential in ensuring students are truly empowered and heard through the OOSS’ efforts.

Since its founding, the OOSS has brought several events to consummation, including a Letter Campaign to the union and government, as well as SYEC Day. Efforts were focused on implementing a new umbrella campaign for future events, which would work to evolve the very nature of “extra”-curricular activities to a “co-curricular” nature. The group was also looking into other possible solutions to resolve this crisis – such as the binding-arbitration procedures used in Manitoba. Each event and campaign with this movement endeavours to raise awareness of the Bill 115 issue at hand and the importance of co-curricular activities, while voicing the opinions and concerns of students in a respectful and organized manner. These efforts have been widely recognized by national media, including newspapers such as the Toronto Star, the Globe and Mail, and on air via CBC’s Metro Morning with Matt Galloway, as well as CBC’s Ontario Today with Kathleen Petty.

The OOSS has met with officials from both sides of the conflict including Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn, Ontario Education Minister Laurel Broten, and most recently, OSSTF/FEESO President Ken Coran; OOSS members have had ample opportunity to attest firsthand to the effects this issue has had on the quality of education within the current learning community.

Most notably, the OOSS created Operation SOS, which was an open petition on behalf of the students, teachers, parents, and trustees of Ontario pushing for an arbitration similar to ones used in Manitoba, so that another Bill 115 conflict will not come to light again. With nearly 1000 signatories, the petition was sent to politicians and educators alike.

As of November 2015, the OOSS expanded its horizons and relaunched as the Federation of Canadian Secondary Students-Fédération des Étudiants du Secondaire au Canada (FCSS-FESC) with provincial branches opening in Alberta, British Columbia, Quebec, and Newfoundland and Labrador